Open framework, especially for building purposes

ABSTRACT

Open framework with vertical columns and horizontal girders or supporting beams with junctions, showing an interconnection between two coaxial columns and up to four girders, whereby the end of each column is provided with a transverse flange, the end of each girder belonging to the junction point being taken up between the flanges of two adjoining columns in such a way that each end forms one side of a rectangle or a square, and that for junctions with less than four girder ends the missing ends are replaced by short girder sections for completing the rectangle.

[ 1 Jan. 29, 1974 O United States Patent 1 De Hartog OPEN FRAMEWORK, ESPECIALLY FOR BUILDING PURPOSES [75] Inventor: Jan F. De Hartog, Achterom, Netherlands [73] Assignee: Fokker V.F.W. N.V., Schiphol-Oost,

Netherlands 1 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 189,599

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 18, 1970 Netherlands 7018477 [52] US. Cl 52/648, 52/283, 52/721, 52/726 [51] Int. Cl E04b 1/24 [58] Field of Search..... 52/637, 721, 280, 488, 251, 52/301, 126, 300, 236, 726, 729-731 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,970,676 2/1961 Maciunas 52/280 X 3,577,693 5/l97l Sofer et al. 52/236 3,628,300 12/1971 Tsurumi 52/726 X 2,500,636 3/l950 Isakson 3,305,989 2/1967 Scott 992,739 5/1911 Meier 52/582 2,153,884 4/1939 Goins 52/637 2,664,977 l/l954 Starcevich 52/30l 3,316,680 5/1967 Chra'stek 52/126 l,5l9,l79 12/1924 Whittaker 52/126 2,345,500 3/1944 Petter 52/200 X 3,312,024 4/1967 Puschmann 52/263 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 652,773 2/1963 Italy 52/648 Primary Exami rterI-Ienry C. Sutherland Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John P. Snyder 5 7] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 9 m4 sum 1 or 2 2 mm F INVENTOR PATENTEDJMQ m1: 3788.024

SHEET 2 0P INVENTOR OPEN FRAMEWORK, ESPECIALLY FOR BUILDING PURPOSES The invention relates to an open framework with vertical columns and horizontal girders or supporting beams with junctions, showing an interconnection between two coaxial columns and one or more girders. Such an open framework is described in Belgian Specification 664,838. The junctions of this known open framework are obtained by inserting betweentwo adjoining coaxial box columns a connection piece, provided with supporting extensions for the ends of one or more girders. The use of such connection pieces to be inserted into box columns means a complication during assembling and of course solid columns (without a box profile) can not be used. Moreover the supporting means for the ends of the girders by means of lips and notches does not show a favourable strength. These disadvantages are perhaps of minor importance when assembling models or toys (the subject of the above Belgian Specification) but said disadvantages are very important in the construction of open frameworks for buildings. The object of the invention is a simple and strong construction of open metal frameworks, especially for buildings.

The open framework according to the invention is characterised in that the end of each column is provided with a transverse flange, the end of each girder belonging to the junction point being taken up between the flanges of two adjoining columns in such a way, that each end forms one side of a rectangle or square, and that for junctions with less than four girder ends the missing ends are replaced by short girder sections for completing the rectangle. In this way framework junctions are obtained, which may be assembled in a simple and easy way, the application of connection pieces of special construction being avoided and only a small number of simple parts is used. Nevertheless the construction according to the invention provides a suitable adaptability of junctions for open frameworks to local circumstances in view of the fact that without difficulties the columns may if required be interconnected by junctions interconnecting one, two, three of four gird ers.

The transverse flanges of the column may show a rectangular or square circumference, corresponding to the rectangle formed by the end of the girders or girder sections. Preferably the transverse flanges of the columns and the ends of the girders or girder sections are interconnected by means of bolts and nuts. Preferably the columns consist of square, rectangular or cylindrical box profiles; for the girders or girder sections a U- profile is preferably used. For the columns it is also possible to use solid profiles e.g. II-profiles.

The junctions of the open framework according to the invention may be used for taking up one or more girders or beams, as has been remarked above. This means that a junction having less than four girders may be extended later on. According to one embodiment of the invention it is possible to use means for lifting the upper transverse flange of a column with respect to the junction in order to replace girder sections by girders or girders by girder sections.

These lifting means may e.g. consist of screw bolts inserted in screw threaded apertures of the upper transverse flange, said screw bolts being arranged along three sides of the rectangle or the square, the flange in question being lifted by screwing down said bolts. The

fourth side of the rectangle becomes in this way unstressed in such a way that the replacement according to the invention of the girder section by a girder may be carried out easily.

The drawings show embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 give isometric views of junctions with respectively one, two, three and four girders for an open framework;

FIG. 5 gives a plan view of this framework;

FIG. 6 shows an auxiliary junction for coaxial columns without girders;

FIG. 7 shows on an enlarged scale particulars about the junction of FIG. 4.

In the drawings an open metal framework is assembled by means of coaxial vertical columns I and 2 provided at adjoining ends with square transverse flanges 3 and 4. One or more girders or supporting beams 5 may be taken up with the end 6 between these flanges 3 and 4. In a junction with four girders 5 the four ends 6 provide a complete square between the transverse flanges 3 and 4. Junctions with less than four girders are provided with additional short girder sections 7. FIG. 1 shows three of these sections, FIG. 2 two and FIG. 3 only one.

As shown in FIG. 6 it is possible to obtain a column of the double length by connecting two column elements by means of four girder sections 7.

As may appear from FIG. 7 the transverse flanges 3, 4, the ends 6 of the girders and the girder sections 7 may be provided with suitably arranged apertures for taking up screw bolts for the interconnection of the parts of the junction. Ends of girders and/or girdersections may be provided with openings 8 giving access to the interior of the columns which may carry conduits or cables (service cables, telecommunication cables, pipe lines for gas or water and so on).

From FIG. 5 it may appear that the open framework may be extended easily. In FIG. 5 it is possible to make an interconnection between adjoining junctions with less then four girders by an additional girder after removal of girder sections 7 in the junctions in question. To this effect it is necessary to unstress the girder end in question in order to remove the gripping forces between adjoining transverse flanges 3,4. Removal of these forces may e.g. be obtained by screwing down screw bolts inserted into screw-threaded borings of the transverse flange 4, the end of said bolts engaging the lower girder or girder section.

By arranging between girders of the open framework transverse beams or girders building floors may be assembled easily. Such transverse girders or beams may also be used for supporting roofs and/or terraces.

These open frameworks may be used when assembling buildings according to French Specification No. 919,598.

What I claim is:

1. Open framework comprising upper and lower sets of coaxial vertical columns and horizontal girders belonging to two sets of parallel girders, the sets of girders being perpendicular with respect to each other and having junctions providing interconnections between two coaxial columns and up to four girders, in which the end of each column is provided with an outwardly projection circumscribing transverse flange, the end of each girder belonging to a junction being disposed between the flanges of two coaxial columns with each set of parallel girders being staggered in such a way that in each junction a side face of each girder endforms one side of a rectangle and such that for junctions with less than four girder ends the missing ends are replaced by short girder sections for completing the rectangle.

2. Open framework according to claim 1 wherein said girders and girder sections are of U-shaped configuration with the closed part of the U facing the rectangle.

3. In a structural framework assembly, in combination:

a first set of vertical columns disposed at one level and a second set of vertical columns disposed at a second level coaxial with corresponding columns of the first set, the columns of the two sets being positioned to define corners of rectangular areas;

a plurality of horizontal girders interconnecting said columns along at least some of the boundaries of said rectangular areas;

a flange plate secured to each of the upper ends of the first set of columns and a flange plate secured to each of the lower ends of the second set of columns, each flange plate having border portions projecting outwardly of its associated column;

the ends of said girders being disposed between said border portions of the flange plates of coaxial colurnns such that at a place where four girders meet,

their ends form a rectangular enclosureibetween the flange plates of the associated coaxial columns, and such that at other places where lessthan four girders meet, at least one side of such' a rectangular enclosure is formed, and girder sections disposed between said border portions of the flange plates of the coaxial columns at said other places to complete the rectangular enclosures thereat; and fastener means connecting all of said girder ends and girder sections to their associated flange-plates.

4'. In a structural framework assemblyas defined in claim 3 wherein said columns are of hollow form and each flange plate is provided with a central opening whereby said rectangular enclosures effect continuity between'the interiors of coaxial columns.

5. in a structural framework assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said columns are rectangular, said flange plates are rectangular and said girders and girder sections are of channel configuration, the webs of said channel girders being disposed innermost and the legs thereof projecting outwardly in face-to-face contact with said outwardly projecting border portions of said flange plates.

I! i i 

1. Open framework comprising upper and lower sets of coaxial vertical columns and horizontal girders belonging to two sets of parallel girders, the sets of girders being perpendicular with respect to each other and having junctions providing interconnections between two coaxial columns and up to four girders, in which the end of each column is provided with an outwardly proJection circumscribing transverse flange, the end of each girder belonging to a junction being disposed between the flanges of two coaxial columns with each set of parallel girders being staggered in such a way that in each junction a side face of each girder end forms one side of a rectangle and such that for junctions with less than four girder ends the missing ends are replaced by short girder sections for completing the rectangle.
 2. Open framework according to claim 1 wherein said girders and girder sections are of U-shaped configuration with the closed part of the U facing the rectangle.
 3. In a structural framework assembly, in combination: a first set of vertical columns disposed at one level and a second set of vertical columns disposed at a second level coaxial with corresponding columns of the first set, the columns of the two sets being positioned to define corners of rectangular areas; a plurality of horizontal girders interconnecting said columns along at least some of the boundaries of said rectangular areas; a flange plate secured to each of the upper ends of the first set of columns and a flange plate secured to each of the lower ends of the second set of columns, each flange plate having border portions projecting outwardly of its associated column; the ends of said girders being disposed between said border portions of the flange plates of coaxial columns such that at a place where four girders meet, their ends form a rectangular enclosure between the flange plates of the associated coaxial columns, and such that at other places where less than four girders meet, at least one side of such a rectangular enclosure is formed, and girder sections disposed between said border portions of the flange plates of the coaxial columns at said other places to complete the rectangular enclosures thereat; and fastener means connecting all of said girder ends and girder sections to their associated flange plates.
 4. In a structural framework assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said columns are of hollow form and each flange plate is provided with a central opening whereby said rectangular enclosures effect continuity between the interiors of coaxial columns.
 5. In a structural framework assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said columns are rectangular, said flange plates are rectangular and said girders and girder sections are of channel configuration, the webs of said channel girders being disposed innermost and the legs thereof projecting outwardly in face-to-face contact with said outwardly projecting border portions of said flange plates. 